New Mexico hospital's Children’s Psychiatric Center enhances behavioral healthcare for children and adolescents
University of New Mexico Hospital Children’s Psychiatric Hospital
Albequerque, N.M.
The University of New Mexico Hospital has completed a major expansion and modernization of its Children’s Psychiatric Center in Albuquerque. The new 32,500-square-foot facility began serving patients in summer 2026 and includes 36 beds in single and double rooms, along with shared dining and interactive spaces. Designed with bright colors, open areas, and a welcoming atmosphere, the center prioritizes trauma-informed care to create a therapeutic, non-institutional environment for children and adolescents.
“We took into account the seating, the colors, and the view, to make it a therapeutic space rather than a detention space that sometimes is the impression that psychiatric hospitals have,” said Mauricio Tohen, MD, chair of the UNM School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
The center provides comprehensive care for youth who require hospitalization, including counseling, medication management, therapy, and educational services, with typical stays lasting around 10–11 days.